Electric-arc welding and cutting system



M rch 15 192 a 7 I c. J. HOLSLAG ELECTRIC ARC WELDING AND CUTTING SYSTEM Original Filed Feb. 9. 1923 w f 1 Ev! 0 a w Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

-, @.UNITED STATES,

- PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE J. HOLSLAG, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC ARC CUTTING & WELDING COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC-ABC WELDING AND CUTTING SY STEM.

original application filed February 9, 1923, Serial No. 617,919. Divided and this application filed October 25, 1924. SerialNo. 745,732.

i This invention relates to electric arc welding and cutting, and is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 617,919 filed February 9, 1923. In said previous application it has 5 been pointed out that for certain classes of work there is a demand for a resistor-reactor Welding system which generally consists of -a suitable resistance, reactance, and the necessary apparatus to connect these together into a welding system. My present invention is directed to a system for supplying this special demand.

In said previous application, I pointed out the advantages of a reactor having a core 1 which is automatically moved to gve the necessary results and it is one of theobjects of my present invention to enlarge on this particular feature by pointing out and claiming more in detail the use of a relay-reactor, which performs a double function of a relay and a reactor, as the name implies. v Another object of my invention is to provide means for controlling a relatively high voltage of a direct current supply, so that the voltage normally across the arc electrodes, when they are not in use, is reduced to a safe value, whereby operators willnot receive injurious shocks; and furthermore automatically control the current so the are circuit is opened should the arc length be extended by the operator to a point where improper or poor welding is being done.

Where only one operator is used across the supply leads from a source of direct current of a voltage considerably above the welding voltage, the loss in regulating resistances becomes of great importance and it is, therefore, another object of my invention to pro vide a, system in which these regulating losses are reduced to a minimum. This object is attained by an arrangement such that a pluralityof arcs may be operated across the source of supply. thereby increasing the efiiciency of the system in direct ratio to the number of operators served from a given Volta e supply. In attaining the above stated object, I control the arc voltage so that no long are can be held with disastrous results. I also control the are by shunting the same instead of opening the welding circuit, thereby not interfering with the other operators, Other objects will be apparent to one skilled in this art after a study of the specification and drawing wherein:

Figure 1 shows four operators sets connected across a three-Wire source of supply. Figure 2 isa modified arrangement of one of the operators or are positions shown in Fig. 1. I v

Figure 3 is a slightly modified form of the operators set shown in Fig. 2; while Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the reactorrrelay shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but with all the levers, springs, contacts, etc., re-

moved for the sake-of clarity.

In the drawing the relay 4 has the terminalsof its winding 8 connected to the contacts 12 to which contacts are also connected the arc electrodes 1' and 3, as well as the terminals ofthe stabilizing resistance 5, thereby normally connecting the stabilizing resistance 5 and the winding 8 all in series across the source of supply. The com ensating resistance 17 is connected to a pair of contacts 18. The contacts 18 are normally standing open as shown, but are adapted to, be connected to the contacts 12 when the relay 4. is operated by the winding 8. The compensating resistance 17 is relatively low so as compared with the' winding 8- and when the contacts 18 are in engagement with the contacts 12 the drop across the resistance 17 is intended to be substantially the same as the, normal voltage across the are which is'enough to hold the relay in operated position but not enough to actuate it from open position. 1 In operation, when the power circuit has been closed to the terminals 2 and 6 and the-electrodes are not in use, the relay windings 8 to. actuate the relay toclose a circuit through the compensating resistance 17 as above described. Now when one of the operators 'touches the electrode 3 to the work 1, this produces a short circuit around the Winding 8, as well as the compensating resistance 17 and the. relay 4. immediately opens to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the arc is then struck and the work proceeded with, current flowing through the stabilizing resistance 5 and the arcs being in series, it being underis seen that there are no buttons, switc each of these windings is controlled of contacts '21 normally held closed by stood that a lurality of operators are at work. Should for any reason one of the operators draw too long an arc, the voltage across the electrodes, and consequently at the terminals 12 will increase and more current will flow through-the winding 8, causing the relay 4 to be actuated and bringing in the conipensatin resistance 17 so t at no disturbance wil be produced among theothcr operators as has been described.

From the arrangement shown in F1 1, it hes, or extra wires and that there is no high voltage across the electrodes on account ofthe seriesarrangement, which furthermore reduces the losses in a system of. this character to a minimum.

In Fig. 2, I have shown an individual operator s welding set and it is to be understood that ajplurality of sets maybe connected as in Fig. 1. The arrangement of Fig.2 is such that when the lastoperator working is through, the main circu1t is 0 ned by means of a relay. 19 controlling t e contact 20. The relay 19 is provided with a winding, one for each operatorband y a pair the operator in holding the electrode holder.

The arrangement in Fig. 3 is very similag" to that shown in Fig.2, but the relay 19 has a series winding 22 thereon and the button 21 does not need to be held closed by the operator all the time he is welding but it may be just closed temporarily while he is starting the arc.

It will be readil appreciated that since the arrangements s own in the drawingare schematic thatthe principles of my welding systems may be carried out by the use of numerous designs, so ifar as the particular ieces of apparatus are concerned, and I, tl ierefore, do not wish to be limited to any. particular design of a relay, or compensating or stabilizing resistance as these designs may be varied through a 'wide range. v

It may be pointed out that a winding 8 of the relay 4 in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive acts as an aid in absorbing. the inductive kick lay,

when the arc is broken.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim 1s:'

1. In an arc welding and cutting system, a sourceof D. C. current of relatively high voltage, means for operating a plurality of arcs across said source consisting of;.a res a steadying resistance and a compeneating resistance for each pair of. arc electrodes; said relay having main contacts to which its windingis connected. and auxiliary contacts to which said compensating resistance is connected, said are electrodes v oltage, means for operating a plurality of arcs across said source consisting of; a relay, a steadying resistance in series'with therelay'and a'compensating resistance for each pair of arc electrodes; said rela having contacts which coact on actuatlon of the relay to. introduce said compensating resistance into parallel relationship with said relay winding and into the welding circuit if one of said arcs goes out or -becomes too long for ood-welding. 3. In an arcwelding andcutting'system, a source of D. 0. current of relatively high voltage, means for operating a plurality of arcs across said source consisting of; a relay, a steadying resistance in series with the relay and a compensating resistance for each pair of arc electrodes; said rela having contacts 1 which coact on actuation ofthe relay to' introduce said compensating resistance into the welding circuit if one of said arcs good welding, said relay also acting to cut out the compensating resistance from the arc circuit when the corresponding set of electrodes are brought-together preparatory to starting the arc.

4. In an arc welding and cutting system, a source of D. C. current of relativel high voltage, means for operating a plura 't of oes out or becomes toovlong .for'

arcs across said source consisting o a.

- trodes; said relay serving to render each set automatic whereby the other sets in the group can be operated without interference one with the other, a master relay for controlling the application of power to all the sets and means at each set for operating the master relay. 4

5. In an" arc welding and cutting system, a source of D. C. current of relatively high voltage, means for operating a plurality of arcs across said source consisting of; a relay, a. steadying resistance and a compensating resistance for'each pair of arc electrodes, said relay serving to render each set autonatic whereby the other'sets in the group can be operated without interference one with the other, a master relay for controlling the application of power to .all the sets, .and a switch at the movable electrode holder of each set for actuating the master relay.

6. In an arc welding and cutting system;

a source of D. 0. current of relativel high voltage, means for operating a plum 'ty of arcs across said source consisting of; areley, a. steadying resistance and a comgenseting resistance for each pair of arc e ectrodes, said relay serving to render each set autometic whereby the other sets in the group I can be oper GLAE J. HOLSL'AG;

without interference one .with the other .said relpy win l also as an aid m obsorbmg the kic olta 

